A chance conversation over a pint of Guinness in the1970s led an Irishman on a literary odyssey to prove that the Burren, in County Clare inspired JRR Tolkien’s Middle Earth in “The Lord of the Rings”.

10. "Waking Ned Devine"

Charming comedy set in a tiny, rural Irish town. When lottery winner Ned Devine is found dead - lottery ticket in hand and all - the townsfolk ban together to fool the authorities into thinking Ned is alive so they can receive the cash and share it. Starring Ian Bannen and Fionnula Flanagan.

If your buddy feels compelled to sing a famous Irish ballad this Saint Patrick’s Day, be a good pal and make sure he or she scraps the following ten numbers off their party pieces.

PHOTOS - Landmarks on Leopold Bloom's journey through Dublin

People often take time to come to terms with events that have shaped them. So it proves in Dublin-born playwright Brona Crehan’s new play Pillow on the Staircase, which is based on true life events from her own past. 

Wexford born author Eoin Colfer has penned one of the 11 new “Doctor Who” books to mark the 50th anniversary of the TV series.

The Irish Arts Center winter 2013 term is about to kick off. The Center offers New York’s most comprehensive assortment of classes in Irish arts and culture, taught by talented instructors.

Calling all social singles in New York City! The New York Irish Center in Long Island City is hosting a blind date night on February 8.  It’s the perfect opportunity to nab a date in time for Valentine’s Day and help raise funds to bring an acclaimed new show to Ireland.

The US premiere of “These Halcyon Days” a new play by Deirdre Kinahan, an eight-show residency by Irish songwriter and singer Declan O’Rourke and the seventh Masters in Collaboration instalment, pairing award-winning Irish traditional musician Karan Casey with vocalist and bluegrass musician Aoife O'Donovan are among the highlights of the Irish Arts Center’s spring season.

The producers of Riverdance have announced their follow up show “Heartbeat of Home,“ which will premiere in Ireland in October of this year and is expected to have an American run possibly in March 2014.

Details of the Doolin Short Story Competition 2013 have been announced by the Irish Writers' Centre in association with Hotel Doolin.

PHOTOS - a slideshow of old photographs from the Mount Street Club Farm

How did Irish men ever get the reputation for being quiet? Anyone with actual on the ground experience of the nation knows that, like the Rolling Stones song, once you start them up they never stop. 

Endless curiosity about people and a generous enjoyment of human nature are the hallmarks of Maeve Binchy’s life and work. Sadly she passed away last July, but she’s left us with A Week in Winter,  the spell-binding final novel that shows her at the height of her powers. Cahir O'Doherty considers the life and work of the unmatchable Irish author.

A Chinese edition of James Joyce’s Finnegans Wake has sold out in China, with a second edition being printed to meet the demand.

Grammy Award winning artist Carrie Underwood, lit up the stage at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards in an illuminated custom THEIA ball gown, created by Kerry born designer Don O’Neill.

The Irish Arts Center will honor three distinguished young professionals, invested in promoting and preserving the rich cultural heritage of Ireland and Irish America, at its annual Show Your Love event, on Friday, February 22nd.

Reactions to the Canadian sculptor’s idea to build a 100-foot statue of St. Patrick, on Croagh Patrick, have being coming into IrishCentral and it seems that the mood on the idea is split among our readers. 

The original manuscript which inspired the Maureen O’Hara and John Wayne movie “The Quiet Man” is on display in Listowel, County Kerry. 

The Irish American experience is different, but it’s no less Irish. A trans-Atlantic perspective may inform your inner dialogue with the old sod, but it’s never been a one-way conversation as Irish Voice music columnist Mike Farragher shows us in the follow up to his book This Is Your Brain on Shamrocks. Cahir O'Doherty hears about 50 Shades O’ Green, Farragher’s latest guided tour through the landmarks of his Irish American heritage.

If you’re a lover of live music you’ll want to go along to the annual Belfast Nashville Songwriters’ Festival and Convention 20th – 24th February. It’s a celebration of the art of songwriting and with more than one hundred artists performing over five days, Belfast will come alive to the sound of singer-songwriters from all over Northern Ireland and different parts of the world. From Country to Rock, Americana to Traditional Folk, there’s something on offer for all musical tastes. The Convention explores the business side of music in sixteen workshops at the event.

Award-winning actress and playwright Laoisa Sexton’s ‘For Love’ is to premiere at the Irish Repertory Theatre in Manhattan with previews set to begin March 13.

The paths of African-American and Irish communities in Harlem – both parallel and crossed – and the contributions they have made to American culture are explored in “Black and White and Green: St. Patrick’s Day in Harlem,” a frank and entertaining discussion and performance timed to the traditional Irish holiday. 

Two distinctive Irish extravaganzas are coming to the Ridgefield Playhouse in Connecticut in March. North America's premier Celtic event featuring the best in rock and Celtic music, comedy and dance, the Tartan Terrors will take the stage on Saturday, March 2, at 8 p.m. Special guests are The Mighty Ploughboys. 

It's been a tumultuous, life-changing month for young Irish producer Fodhla Cronin O'Reilly, 26.  On February 2 her animated short film Head Over Heels won a coveted 2013 Annie Award at the most prestigious animation awards ceremony in the world held in Los Angeles. 

The Irish Consulate in New York has launched a St. Patrick’s Day visual arts project open to all children between the ages of six and 16, with a category for special needs children.   

The award winning Broadway musical ‘Once’ began a one week run in Dublin’s Gaiety theatre last Friday, as part of the European Premiere of the show.

An Irish Festival by day and an Irish Fight Night by night – that’s what’s in store for visitors to the Resorts World Casino in Jamaica, Queens on Saturday, March 2

Background: A Sunnyside, Queens resident, Fiona O’Loughlin is originally from Ennis, Co. Clare. She moved to the U.S. to pursue an acting career.

On March 6 New York’s premier Irish film and music event, the Craic Fest, is back and firing on all cylinders, with Cillian Murphy headlining the films and Julie Feeney headlining the music. This year a new Kids Fleadh has been added for the little ones, and there’s a new emphasis on documentaries for grownups. Cahir O'Doherty hears what to expect from the festival’s organizer Terence Mulligan.

Klondike House is a quite beautiful memoir of rural Ireland, in this case the Eyeries region in Cork written by John Dwyer, a local lad who grew up in the area.

This Saint Patrick’s Day will see the broadcast of a very special programme which is dedicated to Irish culture, Irish creativity and its reach and impact across the world.

Doctor Daniele Volpe is not an ordinary Italian neurologist. In addition to heading up the Parkinson's Rehabilitation unit at the St. John of God hospital in Venice, he is a musician who loves trad and who visits Ireland frequently to play in a band.